Sample container



1941- s. WRIGHTSMAN I 0,

SAMPLE CONTAINER 'Filed Jan. 11, 1940 F/G, J ll/ W INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 28, 1941 SAMPLE CONTAINER.

Lawrence S. Wrightsman, Houston, Tex.,lassignor. to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation of Delaware Application January ll, 1940", Serial No. 313,393-

1 Claim.

. The present invention relates toa device for retaining samples.

An object of the present invention is to produce' a device for retaining samples of fluids without the loss of volatile constituents.

Another object of the invention is to produce a device in which samples. of a fluid may be retained without loss of any of its constituents and without'exposing it to contamination by another fluid during storage.

Other objects and' advantages of theinventio'n may be seen from reading the following description-and by reference to the accompanying drawing which haslike numerals designating like parts and inwhich Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly in sectionof a. modification of the device of the present invention attached to a suitable manifold for obtaining. a. sample Fig. 2: is a side elevation, partly in section, of a sample container likethat shown in Fig. l', but detached. from themanifold, and having attached thereto a container of compressed gas: to aid in emptying. the sampling container; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another modification of the present invention attached to a constant displacement pump for taking samples.

Referring to Fig. 1 in detail, a cylindrical casing I is provided with a bottom 2 and cover 3. Fitting concentrically within the casing is a plunger 4 attached to a longitudinally extending rod 5 provided with a handle 6. Plunger 4 is provided with a gasket 1 made of suitable material, such as leather, Duprene or other similar material. The bottom Z'contains a central passage and fitting around this central passage valve is a portion of union 2 I is'also. provided with an additional branch pipe i=8 which is suitablyprovided' with a valve I 9 and a portionlof a union 2i; i

In Fig. 2,.a sampling container like thatin- Fig. 1 is shown disconnected from the manifold and connected to a metal container 22 by means of a flexible conduit 23 having within its length a valve 2'4. The bottom outlet of this container is controlled by valve and positioned below'tl'iis In the modification shown by Fig. 3 the coupling 8 of the bottom of the container is! con-= nected to constant displacement pump 25 by means of conduit 26'. A- T 21: is placed in con-- duit' 2t and controlling the opening from the 'ris a valve 28'. In order to serve as an overflow for the sampling container an opening provided with a threaded coupling 29- isarranged in'the upper end of the casing and attached thereto" by means of a nipple and elbow is a valve 30.

The sampling containers shown in 'Figs. l and 2 are generally made with large capacities-as, for

example, from {i to 20 gallons, and are generallyused for taking samples over long periods oftime, I for example, 24 hours;

sized containers, it. is: preferable; to havesat least.

When using suchv large two of them available with suitable means of attaching them to a manifold which is appropriately connected to the body of liquid to be sampled. Fluid is allowed to flow into one of the sampling containers until the desired size of sample is obtained and then the stream is diverted and making a fluid-tight joint with bottom Z-is a coupling 8. The cover 3 is provided with a central opening 9 which allows the rod 6 to move longitudinally with respect to the casing. A stuffing gland l0 fitting around opening 9 of the cover provides a tight joint between the cover and rod 6 while allowing the rod longitudinal movement. Cover 3 is also pierced by a second hole which is provided with a coupling II for reasons which will hereafter appear.

Attached to a midpoint of casing l are laterally extending axles I2 one of which is provided with a suitable crank l3. A frame [4 is provided with journals It: for receiving axles l2 and, in addition, is provided with suitable rollers I6 which allow the unit to roll along a surface. A conduit I! connected to coupling 8 of the casing by means of a branch pipe [8 contains valves l9 and 20 and a union 2| between them. Conduit I1 to the second sampler and the first container isemptied and then again attached to the manifold so that the process may be repeated.

The preferred method of emptying a large sampling container will be described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 taken together. A full sampling container connected to branchpipe i8 by means of union 2| was removed from the line by closing valve I9 and breaking the connection at union 2|. The sampling container with its frame was then removed to one side in order to make it easier to withdraw the sample from the bottom outlet. Crank l3 was then used to give the container angular movement to stir the contents thereof to dissolve any gases which may have separated from the liquid while the sample was being collected and to mix the body of the fluid so that any portion thereof is a representative sample. Metal container 22 was then attached to coupling H at the top of the container by means of flexible conduit 23, and the desired amount of liquid withdrawn from the device by placing a transfer container below valve 20' and opening valve 24 to allow the compressed gas to force plunger 4 downwardly and fluid out through valve 20.- I

It will be evident that some other force may be used instead of compressed gas to cause plunger 4 to move downwardly in emptying the container. For example, an operator may push downwardlyonhandle 6 and force the sample out of the container." However,-it will generally be found desirable in'using large sample containers to force plunger 4 down by the use of fluid or mechanical pressure. On some occasions, it may be desirable to empty the container without any preliminary mixing and if this is desired the device maybe emptied without disconnecting it from the manifold by attaching suitable outlets to branch pipes l8 and H3.

The modification shown by Fig; 3 is particu-- larly suitable for collecting smaller quantities of liquid, for example, from one quart to two gallon's byv using a constant displacement pump at vided. Valve 30 may be opened a suficient amount to allow excess material to flow from the device in case it is not emptied before plunger 4 is pushed high enough to clear opening 29. While a simple hand valve has been shown in the drawing, it is evident that an automatic pressure releasing valve may be used for this device. It will be obvious that, if desired, this modification may be provided with trunnions to aid in the mixing of the sample and alsothat the pumpmay be dispensed with.

While I have shown preferred modifications of'thepresent invention, it is obvious that various changes may be made therein without departpushed downwardly. 'Inthis manner thesample is'quickly forced into the transfer container and p then the valve 28 may be closed and another sam'ple allowed; to collect. I

Ifhe opening 29 controlled by Valve 30 at tl'ie upper end of the container in Fig. 3 may be used I as an overflow to prevent the pressure from building up to excessive amounts if the container is not emptied according toischedule, Pump 25 is a constant displacement pumpand under some conditions the pressure withinthe casing might build up an amount which would endanger the apparatus if. suitable safety means were not proing from the scope of the invention. For example, changes invthe size and shape of the containers and in the method of attaching them to obtain samples may be made as desired. Any

of the modifications shown may be attached to a vessel containing fluid or else attached to a pump which, in turn, is attached to a fluidcontainer. It will also be evident that overfiow valves may be attached or omitted from any modification of the apparatus. It istherefore-my-intention=1not to be limited by the specific modifications disclosed,

- but to claim my invention as broadly as the prior art permits;

I claim: 1

A sampling device suitable for connection to;

a fluid-carrying conduit comprising, in combina tion; a cylindrical casing, a pair of axlesdiametrically projecting from the walls of said casing,

a crank handleattached to one of said axles, a" frame resting on rollers provided with journals secured to said axles to allow a'ngularmovement of said casing, a plunger fitting slidingly within said casing, a seal arranged between said plunger and the interior wall of the casing, a'closure secured to each end of said cylinderypassages through one of said closures, a rod" projecting through oneof saidpassages and attached to said plunger, a. separable conduit provided with a' valve on each side of'the point of separation atwith the interior of the casing.

tached to the other closure and communicating LAWRENCE s. WRIGHTSMAN. 

